Mr. Valentine had fallen — but the outcome completely stunned everyone.
They saw Miss Valentine lying right in Sandy's arms.
Sandy looked down at her with a grin and said, "Beautiful lady, you're a bit heavy, but that figure's definitely worth it."
This was the first time Miss Valentine had ever been in a situation like this.
What the hell just happened? Did her Devil Fruit ability just… fail?
"Th-Thank you," Miss Valentine stammered, flustered. "What… what do you want to do?"
Sandy's tone suddenly turned poetic. "You are the wind… I am the sand. What do you think?"
Miss Valentine blinked in confusion. Why would this guy suddenly say something so weird?
Unfortunately, she had never watched a drama, so she had no idea what that line implied.
"I'm not the wind," she shot back, scowling. "And I hate sand. Where do you think you're touching, you bastard? We're still enemies, aren't we? Let me go!"
Sandy's face darkened instantly. Wasn't she supposed to say 'Entwined tightly until the ends of the earth' or something romantic? Talk about ruining the mood.
"I hate illiterates," Sandy muttered. "Go, Pikachu…!"
And with that, he simply tossed Miss Valentine out of his arms.
Everyone stared in stunned silence. That was… a very quick emotional 180.
Sandy then pointed at Mr. 5. "Hey, nose-picking guy. Yeah, I'm talking to you, you ugly bastard. That hairstyle is a crime against humanity. What is that supposed to be? An explosion or a bird's nest?"
He jabbed a finger accusingly. "If you're ugly, fine — own it. But don't make it worse with that hair. If kids see you, they'll cry. So, do us all a favor and disappear from my sight. Take your overweight, illiterate girlfriend with you!"
Zoro and Nami both twitched at the corners of their mouths. Vivi's brain short-circuited on the spot.
Zoro couldn't hold it in any longer and burst out laughing, covering her mouth. "Ahahaha, Sandy, you idiot… hahaha!"
Mr. 5's face turned grim. "Who the hell are you people? Don't get in my way. Super-Sized Bomb!"
But before the explosion could touch them—
"Room. Space Barrier."
Sandy unleashed his move. Within the field, he locked the bombs in layers of space, bouncing them up and down like a yo-yo.
Nami couldn't help but whistle. "You can do that too?"
Mr. 5's eyes widened. His bomb… was being toyed with.
"Who exactly are you?" Mr. 5 demanded. "Why are you stopping us?"
Sandy tilted his head upward at a dramatic forty-five-degree angle and whispered solemnly, "Me? I've long forgotten who I am, Mr. 5.
I've walked the world alone. The slippers on my feet only kick up yellow sand, which scatters behind me into the rivers of the world.
Don't ask who I am… I'm someone you can't afford to mess with."
[Ding! Congratulations to the host for completing a special reward: Swordsman status achieved. Comprehension of Dugu Nine Swords acquired.]
Zoro spat inwardly. Show-off.
But… it was a pretty damn cool move. He'd have to learn it later.
Mr. 5's face darkened even more. He couldn't retreat—Baroque Works' rule was clear: fail a mission, and you'd be hunted down.
Miss Valentine pulled out a wanted poster. After looking at Sandy's bounty, Mr. 5 froze. Three. Hundred. Million. Belly.
His face turned pale. He immediately bowed slightly and said, "Mr. Sandy… we're abandoning this mission. We won't bother you again."
What else could he do? Fight a 300 million Belly monster? He wasn't suicidal.
"Wait," Sandy called out, tossing the bomb back. "Here's your toy. Be careful, it's kinda explosive."
Mr. 5 chuckled. He had the Bomb-Bomb Fruit; explosions wouldn't hurt him.
But the moment he stepped out of Sandy's Space Field— BOOM!
The explosion lit up the night sky.
When the dust cleared, Mr. 5 and Miss Valentine were gone.
Vivi walked over. "Thank you for saving me."
Nami crossed her arms and smirked. "You're welcome. But, you know, we saved you on certain conditions."
Igaram rushed up and bowed. "Princess, the situation was urgent. I… may have promised them a reward on my own."
Vivi shook her head. "Don't worry about it."
Nami's eyes sparkled with Belly signs. "Since you're a princess… you must be filthy rich, right? How about one billion Belly to safely take you to Alabasta?"
Vivi's face fell. "I can't afford that."
"What?!" Nami looked genuinely offended.
Igaram explained, "Because Alabasta is in turmoil."
Vivi nodded gravely. "That's why we infiltrated Baroque Works in the first place. The chaos in Alabasta… was all Crocodile's doing."
Sandy stepped forward. "Crocodile. One of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, right?"
"Shichibukai?!" Nami and Zoro exclaimed in shock.
"Boom!"
Suddenly, a fist flew at Zoro from behind. Sandy caught it just in time. It was Luffy.
"Move, Sandy! I'm gonna punch Zoro!" Luffy shouted.
Nami blinked. "Why?"
Luffy yelled, "He's ungrateful! He cut down the people who invited us to eat!"
Zoro opened his mouth to explain, but Sandy's fist already slammed into Luffy's face.
"You idiot!" Sandy roared. "You're the Captain, and you were sleeping like a pig while everything happened. You've got no right to be mad!"
Luffy shouted back, "What did you say?! Those were civilians! Zoro cut them down!"
Sandy shrugged. "Then what? If you're that pissed, let's fight."
"Bring it on! Who's afraid of who!"
Duang! Duang!
Sandy and Luffy knocked each other out simultaneously.